SRT-10 Dodge Ram VS Ford SVT Lightning

The Dodge Ram SRT-10 and the Ford SVT Lightning pickups are the fastest production pickups in the world. The 505 horsepower V10 Viper powered SRT-10 Ram is for all intensive purposes the faster of the two, but which one is better to own and modify? To answer that question we're going to examine the very different and unique characteristics of the two.

The Ford SVT Lightning comes from the factory with a 380hp rating, but on a real world dynometer is much closer to 340 wheel horsepower. It's been on the market since 1999 so the SVT Lightning has a much broader spectrum of performance parts to select from including: supercharger upgrades, turbo kits, performance transmissions and torque converters, traction and suspension components, and fully built long block motors. As far as aftermarket components are considered the SVT Lightning has the SRT-10 beat; not only with available parts, but with the cost of those parts since they have been on the market for some time. However when it comes down to the strength and durability of power trains the SRT-10 is up front again. Borrowing a power plant and transmission from it's much older uncle the SRT-10 Dodge Viper. The SRT-10 V10 engine is widely known to be able to provide up to 750 horsepower without even cracking the valve covers only using bolt on forms of forced induction, on the other hand the 5.4 liter V8 in the SVT Lightning begins to get sketchy at around 540 horsepower from engine bolt on's via it's much weaker connecting rods. The SRT-10's factory power output is also inflated when compared to real world wheel shredding horse power, the SRT-10 produces closer to 440-450 horsepower at the wheels and is a few hundred pounds heavier than it's distant cousin the SVT Lightning. However for both to obtain the 500 horsepower level there's no comparison in price. The SVT Lightning will take you around 5,500 dollars to get there whereas the SRT-10 can be there in 25 minutes of work and only about 700 dollars. With a bolt on power adder such as a supercharger the V10 SRT-10 will make massive amounts of tire burning power for the same price the SVT Lightning took to get to a little over 500 horsepower and it will make some where in the neighborhood of 630 horsepower on pump gas even.

Now to the realistic driving factor. Which one is more comfortable and drivable. From an interior styling stand point both are about the same sharing two tone comfortable seating and the same basic interior components, keep in mind the SVT Lightning is slightly older. The SRT-10 has the SVT Lightning beat in it's fun and thrill factor, there's nothing like ripping through the gears with that much torque under your foot, however the SRT-10 is a little unsettling for being such a powerful machine because you sit so high off the ground on it's 22 inch wheels; the SRT-10 feels like it could get away from you and out of control very easily given that it has a manual transmission where maximum torque and horsepower can be delivered to the pavement. The SRT-10 even though it has a revolutionary hydro formed frame does not feel as solid as the SVT Lightning. The potential for making a mistake on a wet day with a modified (or even stock) SRT-10 is a realistic risk. Driving in the rain in the SVT Lightning feels much safer and more comfortable when taking off and traveling it high speeds, it doesn't feel like if you have to make an evasive maneuver that the potential to flip the vehicle is there like the SRT-10. Handling on dry pavement and braking seem to be relatively similar although it should be easier to stop faster in a manual shift truck through down shifting in the SRT-10.

Now we come to the very realistic factor. The SVT Lightning has become affordable whereas the prices on the SRT-10 are still considerably higher. Although fun at times the SRT-10 six speed gear box can become annoying in stop and go traffic. The SVT Lightning's automatic transmission shifts smooth and effortlessly (although after a performance valve body install the shift will be harsher), so the automatic transmission is a definite plus for city driving in the SVT Lightning. We've talked about power, handling, and transmissions; but it's time to talk about gas mileage. My old 03' SVT Lightning got around 18-19mpg with regular driving and my newer 05' SRT-10 Ram only gets about 9mpg no matter what style of driving you have and it requires 93 octance juice to fill up. So ultimately if you are going to choose one of these as a daily driver I strongly suggest the SVT Lightning because of it's driver friendliness, automatic transmission, and fuel economy. However, if you have a second vehicle to drive to work and you want something fun for the weekends then by all means get the tire shredding SRT-10 and mod the heck out of it.